Furnishing a smaller living room comes with its own set of challenges, but when the area is long and narrow, even more strategy and creativity must come into play. Whether the space is a studio apartment or a small space that has the bedroom and living room combined, with careful planning, an awkward layout can be transformed into a cozy, stylish, and functional haven. The Arhaus brand specializes in artisan-crafted furniture and employs sustainable materials that offer elegant yet space-conscious designs for narrow layouts. With some thoughtful choices, your small living room can emerge as a beautifully arranged space.
This guide offers practical advice on how to furnish a small living room space efficiently—especially when dealing with tight and elongated dimensions.
Understand the Shape and Function of Your Space
The layout and function of your room should be assessed before any furniture choice. Is it a fully living room or an integrated space set up as a small bedroom and living room? Do the stairs cross through the room? Is it a small hallway-like pass-through living room layout? Any of these details can inform your choice of design.
Long and narrow rooms generally should try to avoid a tunnel effect. Rather, divide the living space into functional zones delineated by area rugs and different lighting schemes, as well as how the furniture itself is arranged.
How to Furnish a Small Living Room Space
We’ll explore small living room furniture layouts, seating maximization, and space-saving strategies to help you create the perfect setup—no matter how compact your space is.
Embrace the Linear Layout
A narrow rectangular room, go with the shape instead of fighting against it. One of the best small living room furniture layouts for a narrow room is one where the furniture is set up lengthwise along the walls while avoiding blocking traffic flow. A rectangular rug will define the seating area and anchor the room visually. Arrange your seating, such as a small sofa or love seat, parallel to the longer walls.
Keep Walkways Open
A significant rule of thumb to consider in setting up a small living room is to allow for walking clearance. Don’t overcrowd the room. Maintain a clearance of not less than 30 inches between large furniture pieces. With a small pass-through living room, circulation must be given priority. Larger furniture should be kept clear of the route and streamlined or leggy furniture should be used so as to give the illusion of a larger space and less obstruction.
Use Multi-Functional Furniture
Each and every piece of furniture should fight its own battle for space in tight confines. Go for multi-functional pieces like an ottoman with storage, or a coffee table that serves as a desk, or, if combining a bedroom with a small living room into a living area, a sleeper sofa. Nesting tables are another all-time favorite for saving space: when pear-shaped relatives come to visit, spread them out, but in normal times, tuck them away.
Foldable or stackable chairs further add to the maximum seating in a small living room at any single time, without overcrowding the place. Wall-mounted desks or floating vanities are also appropriate in small combined bedroom and living room setups.
Divide Zones with Purpose
A long, narrow room can easily be separated into different sections with pieces of furniture, rugs, or even dividers. You can use a narrow console or bookcase to discreetly separate the space of a living room from that of a dining nook, entryway, or work-from-home corner. In small space living rooms with a stairs layout, one can use the under-stairs area to create a reading nook, storage space, or even a compact workstation. Thus, this utilizes otherwise wasted vertical room while freeing up the main area for lounging.
Choose a Light Color Palette
The color of choice alters the perceptible size of a room. Use light and neutral colors for the walls, drapes, and large pieces of furniture to reflect light and create an airy atmosphere. Light grays, whites, beige, and pale blue are good colors for small or narrow rooms. Colorful accessories such as throw pillows, art, and rugs will personalize the space and can be changed out seasonally.
Furniture Size Matters
Furniture that dwarfs the room is not recommended; instead, select pieces that are in scale with your space. Most suitable for a small living room layout are armless sofas, slipper chairs, and love seats. Modular furniture or sectionals can easily fit into a corner or flush against a wall and are excellent for living room arrangements for long, narrow rooms, maximizing comfort as well as floor space.
Add Layers and Texture
In small spaces, texture is introduced in layers—throw blankets, cushions, and layered rugs. These objects provide a lived-in feel in the room, making it cozy but with hardly any room taken up by them. In small space living rooms with an under-stair arrangement, consider extending the design under and throughout the stairs—be it through built-in shelves or artwork—to help maintain a cohesive look.
Conclusion
Furnishing a small, long, narrow living room proves a challenge when it comes to design, but with proper layout and versatile furnishing, such a room can turn out to be fashionable and functional. The right Arhaus pieces provide elegant space-saving items that can ensure compactness when being used for everyday living. For additional savings on high-quality furnishings, visit Coupon Turbo for the latest discounts and promo codes for making your dreams come alive without putting a leg and an arm against the budget.
Related Blog: Simple Bedroom Design Ideas | Interior Decoration Tips
FAQs
What’s the best layout for a long, narrow living room?
The best layout breaks the room into zones. Avoid pushing all furniture against the walls; float your sofa or chairs to add dimension.
How can I visually widen the space?
Use mirrors strategically to reflect light and expand the feel of the room. Light, neutral wall colors and low-profile furniture also help. Horizontal patterns on rugs or wall treatments can create the illusion of width.
